103(c) issue on some transponders

[B A Doe]

For the last year or so my setup has consisted of (1) HR20-700, (3) Tivo DVR's, and (1) standard receiver. Except for the occasional glitch, everything typically works as expected.

A few weeks ago I started having issues with the picture and audio of some HD channels and would occasionally get the "Searching for Sat..." message. As time went on, it appeared more frequently and I began missing recordings. While trying to trouble shoot the issue, I found that all of the channels I am having a problem with (280, 299, 331) are on transponder #2 of the 103c satellite. When looking at the signal strengths of 103c, most were in the 80's and 90's, but transponder #2 was 0. However, even when showing 0, the channel still comes in occasionally. Test Channel 481 will either show "Searching for Sat..." or "B-Band Set Up Correctly" when the picture and sound is available on those channels. When running a system test, the results give a 43-??? error message stating that I have a dish alignment issue. I called DirecTV and they promptly set up a service call.

When DirecTV showed up, the channels had good picture and sound and were not giving the "Searching for Sat..." message so he seemed confused about what my complaint was. I ran the System Test for him and did receive the Dish Alignment error message. I then showed him the signal strengths and pointed out that most of the signals are strong, but that 103c transponder #2 was consistently 0. However, even with it showing 0 while he was there, the channels were coming in fine. I asked about aligning the dish, but was told that it wasn't needed since all of the signals were fine except for one.

He performed a system update, but it had no affect on the issue. He then replaced both BBC's, but again it didn't change anything. After looking at the multiswitch setup, he then proclaimed that my problem was that they had installed two non-powered 6x8 multiswitches which was incorrect for my setup. I was told that even though it had been working fine all along, eventually I was bound to begin having trouble with this setup. He said that I had to call DirecTV back and request that someone come out and install a powered 6x16 multiswitch. I thought it was odd that he couldn't order it, but he stated that he could put it in his notes, but that I had to actually call and request it from DirecTV. He then left leaving my system with the same issues as when he first got there.

Now I am seeing an issue on 103c transponder #8 also. I don't have picture and sound issues yet, but I can watch the signal strength jump back and forth between a reading of 91 and 0. Attached are my signal strength readings for Tuner 1. Tuner 2 basically mirrors these readings so I am not including those, but will if it is needed to help troubleshoot.

Satellite transponders (32 total at 101º)
1-8 95 96 94 95 92 97 94 96
9-16 93 95 95 100 92 97 91 97
17-24 91 95 92 97 95 98 95 96
25-32 94 99 95 77 96 98 95 98


Satellite transponders (3 total at 110º)
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 91
9-16 NA 95 NA 91 NA NA NA NA


Satellite transponders (11 total at 119º)
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA 95 0 95
25-32 97 97 97 95 98 97 42 98


Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c))
1-8 91 93 88 92 88 91 86 92
9-16 86 88 85 91 89 94 NA NA


Satellite transponders (6 total at 99º(s))
1-8 0 0 0 0 0 10 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 62 95
17-24 85 88 95 95 62 57 76 73


Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(s))
1-8 0 69 0 0 0 0 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 91 0
17-24 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 96


Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(c))
1-8 92 0 91 70 92 72 91 0 (#8 jumps from 0 to 91, back and forth)
9-16 94 83 91 89 95 89 NA NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

I did call DirecTV back and made the request for the other multiswitch. Since a service person was already at my place on this issue, it got escalated to case management. They stated that they would make a note that the previous service person thought it needed the 6x16, but they could not guarantee that is what would be done. I am now set up for an appointment on Saturday morning.

I want to be as prepared as possible on Saturday, so I was hoping someone could possibly point me in the right direction for this issue. Could this be a multiswitch issue? Is it caused by dish alignment? Do I have a bad LNB? Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Mertzen]

Connectors, ground block, wiring.

[veryoldschool]

Could this be a multiswitch issue? Is it caused by dish alignment? Do I have a bad LNB? Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Dish alignment: no.
"Could this be..." yes, it could be any number of things. Since the signal is jumping around, it looks like something is marginal.

Mertzen is pointing you to the most likely places. After these are verified in good condition, then LNB/multiswitch would be the next.

[netraa]

Connectors, ground block, wiring.

don't forget that there are connectors on the other side of your wallplates, and that the barrel in the wall plate needs to be 'blue' or rated to 3 ghz for the HD signal.

[texasbrit]

don't forget that there are connectors on the other side of your wallplates, and that the barrel in the wall plate needs to be 'blue' or rated to 3 ghz for the HD signal.
No, you don't need blue barrels. Having a different barrel in the wall plate will have no impact on the signal. If you are doing a new installation then the recommendation is to use 3 Ghz barrels, because you might just as well since you are having to pay for them, but there is no need to replace what you already have. It's an installer "urban legend" I am afraid to say...

[irish8990]

:nono2:I had a 5LNB dish on my roof supporting 5 HD DVRs via power split dual 6X8 multiswitches.

Had roof replaced and had Directv relocate dish to pole mount. Ended up with a 3LNB new dish installed. Nothing inside changed.

Starting having travelling zero transponders.


Directv tech came and replaced ground block, 4 power splitters and 2 6X8 Multiswitches. Issue seem solved for a few days but random zero transponders have returned to 103c sat only -- primarily channels 202, 231, 276 and 290 have searching for satellite or pixelation problems. However, sometimes all channels come in crystal clear. Even when I have travelling zero's, signal strength on other transponders are good. Sats 101 and 109 seem fine all the time.

Tech came back out (system was fine when he showed up) but he replaced the LNB on the dish since he was here.

Problem came back that night. Called Directv again.

Had resolution tech come out yesterday. System working fine when he showed up. He decided to clean up wall plate connection in basement as a start since everything was already replaced and it had non blue connectors(?). While he was doing this, the problem started showing up -- zero transponders on Sat 103c. He ended up replacing the ground block again -- said he saw cracks in the blud insulation plugs. Problem went away.


Woke up this morning, all even transponders were zero on Sat 103c. Went down to multiswitches (one with 8 lines out, one with 2 lines out). THe 8 line out unit was very warm while other was not. Disconnected the 4 lines to units in the basement but zero's remained on the connected unit. Went to check TV with the lines from the 2nd multi-switch. It didn't have zero's went back to other TV and it had travelling zeros. Check the 2nd multiswitch only tv and saw some travelling zero's also. This TV has had the same travelling zeros and lost signal strenghth on the same channels as the other 4 tv's supported by the 1st multiswitch.

Re-hooked the 2 basement lines but this time into the 2nd multiswitch. The 1st multi had cooled down. Right now everything working again, but this issues has been coming and going for 3 weeks now.

Will the 3LNB dish work with a dual mutliswitch set up? Is there something else driving this? I had no issues with the 5 LNB dish.

Any guidance is appreciated as I have a call into the resolution tech to come back out.

Thanks.